Mark Laliberte of Southampton pleads not guilty to drunken driving after allegedly crashing car into Easthampton home

NORTHAMPTON — A 34-year-old Southampton man has denied charges that, while intoxicated, he drove into an Easthampton home and destroyed its porch.

Mark D. Laliberte of 3 Rosalie Lane pleaded not guilty Monday in Northampton District Court to charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (second offense), negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop at a stop sign, a marked lanes violation and failure to use care in starting, stopping, turning or backing.

According to police, officers responded about 2 a.m. Dec. 30 to 21 Park St. for a report of a car striking the house.

Police said Laliberte was driving west on Payson Avenue approaching Park Street when he failed to stop at the stop sign and continued through the intersection into the yard of 21 Park St., striking the house and destroying the porch. Police did not have an estimate of the damage.

The homeowner, Barbara Diamond, 64, home at the time of the crash, was not injured, according to police.

Police said that house has been struck before by motorists who do not observe the stop sign.